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What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of carbamazepine in children.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of carbamazepine have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatrics-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of carbamazepine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have confusion or agitation, which may require caution in patients receiving carbamazepine.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Clorgyline
• Iproniazid
• Isocarboxazid
• Moclobemide
• Nefazodone
• Nialamide
• Pargyline
• Phenelzine
• Procarbazine
• Selegiline
• Toloxatone
• Tranylcypromine
• Voriconazole

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of)—Drinking alcohol may decrease the effectiveness of carbamazepine.

• Anemia or other blood problems or
• Behavioral or mental problems or
• Blood vessel disease or
• Glaucoma or
• Heart disease or heart rhythm problems or
• Problems with urination or
• Skin diseases (e.g., Lyell's syndrome or Stevens-Johnson syndrome)—Carbamazepine may make these conditions worse.

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)—Carbamazepine may cause increased urine glucose levels.

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of carbamazepine may result, increasing the chance of side effects.